Event of the Day: Geelong Cats v Richmond Tigers
Our event of the day...
is the second game of the first week of the AFL finals series, with a match between the Geelong Cats and the Richmond Tigers at the MCG in Melbourne. The winners of today’s Qualifying final will go straight to the Preliminary finals, whereas the defeated team will need to navigate an additional game against the winner of Saturday’s Elimination final between the Sydney Swans and Essendon Bombers who play each other on Saturday at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The Geelong Cats finished the season in second place, while Richmond were just two points behind them in third, so today’s match promises to be a close and fiercely-fought affair.
In Dustin Martin and Jack Riewoldt, Richmond have two of the standout performers of the season, with Martin achieving the third highest number of disposals with 667 and Riewoldt contributing the fifth highest number of goals with 50. However, in Scott Selwood, Geelong possess the player with the highest average of tackles per game with 11.6 and Geelong as a team have put in the most tackles of any franchise this season with 1640 at an average of 74.5 per game. The Cats have an outstanding record over the Tigers having won the last 13 matches and last losing to them in 2006. Richmond are in fine form however and this should be a thrilling contest.
Honourable mentions...
go to the second day of the final test match between England and the West Indies. In the Football Championship, Hull City face Derby County at Pride Park. In the Rugby Union Aviva Premiership, Sale Sharks play Newcastle Falcons at the AJ Bell Stadium. In Rugby League there are fixtures around the world as Castleford Tigers face Leeds Rhinos and Hull FC take on Wigan in the Super League in the UK while Sydney Roosters are up against Brisbane Broncos in an NRL Qualifying final at the Allianz Stadium in Sydney. It is the men's semi finals at the US Open with Kevin Anderson up against Pablo Carreño Busta and Rafael Nadal versus Juan Martín del Porto.
Whatever you're watching, enjoy!
Fixture
Photos by AFL